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Security Compliance Policy Associate

On-site in Manchester·Added today (last checked 21 Oct)

Office for National Statistics (ONS)

4 open roles

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Overview

Salary: £34,587 - £39,106 a year
About £2,370 - £2,640 a month after tax.
Closing date: Apply by Thursday 29 October
Pension: 28.97% employer pension

The role

Apply before 11:55 pm on Thursday 29th October 2026

Details

Reference number

485639

Salary

£34,587 - £39,106

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

GBP

Job grade

Higher Executive Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

Security and Information Management

Type of role

Digital
Information Technology
Security

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed hours

Number of jobs available

Location

The locations for these roles are Newport, Titchfield (Fareham) and Manchester.

This role is aligned to ONS hybrid working principles, which are based on attending the office with purpose. The postholder will be expected to contribute to the organisation's overall 40% office attendance, in line with business and role requirements.

The induction process for the role will be conducted in person.

About the job

Job summary

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) is the UK's largest producer of official statistics, covering a range of key economic, social and demographic topics. These include measuring changes in the value of the UK economy, estimating the size, geographic distribution and characteristics of the population, and providing indicators of price inflation, employment, earnings, crime and migration.

Security and Information Management (SaIM) directorate operates five key services across ONS: Security Risk Advice and Management; Knowledge and Information Management (KIM); Physical Security and Business Continuity; Security Development, Compliance and Audit; and Cyber Security, including our Partnering Services.

This Security Compliance Policy Associate role sits within the Security Development, Compliance and Audit (SDCA) team which forms part of the Security and Information Management (SaIM) directorate. The SDCA team provides an advice service to stakeholders for the complete lifecycle, security and governance of sensitive information stored within data access environments. The SDCA team also acts as an interface between stakeholders to deliver data protection assurance, monitor compliance with security policies and principles as well as provide evidence to stakeholders in support of these functions.

Job description

The primary focus of this role is the implementation of data protection assurance and audit capabilities within the Security Compliance team, in line with clearly defined security strategy and data protection standards. This also includes advising internal users, stakeholders and Information Asset Owners on compliance and risk associated with use of data.

You may be expected to identify and assess the risk(s) associated with the event / incident, raise awareness, and ensure appropriate steps are taken to record and manage any associated risks. Or you may assist planning and conducting audit. You will escalate any concerns/risks to the senior managment.

Responsibilities

Support Compliance Policy Lead in developing and implementing effective data protection assurance processes and compliance documentation (e.g. DPIAs, SyOPs, etc.) to meet regulatory and legal requirements.
Support in developing and implementing effective auditing and monitoring capability for data systems and data use which incorporates advice from Security and industry best practice.
Establishing understanding of the nature, scope, context, purposes, and risk of data processing by different business areas to provide comprehensive guidance and effective oversight of compliance.
Support in developing and promoting effective training, engagement, and awareness-raising activities to promote data protection and compliance best practice.
Assisting with the investigation of non-compliance incidents and breaches and taking actions as directed.
Supports Asset, Security, Information Management and Account responsibilities for the use of all ROSA assets in ONS possession.

Person specification

Essential Criteria

Ability to extract, analyse and visualise information to produce metrics, identify trends and make predictions that inform assessments of risk associated with the use of Government data.
Awareness of UK Government Security Policy Framework and relevant Information Assurance Standards, e.g. ISO 27001, Data Protection Act.
Working knowledge of data protection legislation and regulations, including understanding of their implementation in different contexts across Government.
Working knowledge of risks associated with the use of Government data for statistical production, with ability to provide advice on appropriate data use, risk mitigation and disclosure control.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills at different levels; ability to effectively communicate complex topics to non-specialist audiences.

Desirable

Holding or willing to work towards professional development qualifications within specialist Security discipline e.g. ISO 27001 Security Auditor etc.

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

Delivering at Pace
Managing a Quality Service
Changing and Improving
Working Together

Benefits

Alongside your salary of £34,587, Office for National Statistics contributes £10,019 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

The Office for National Statistics is part of the Civil Service, and as such we share a number of key benefits with other departments, whilst also having our own unique offerings to support our valued colleagues across the organisation.

Whether you are hearing about us for the first time or already know a bit about our organisation, we hope that our careers site will give you a great insight into the benefits and facilities available to our colleagues, and our fantastic working culture.

Inclusion & Accessibility

At ONS we are always looking to attract the very best people from the widest possible talent pool, and we are proud to be an inclusive, equal opportunities employer. As a Disability Confident Leader we're committed to ensuring that all candidates are treated fairly throughout the recruitment process.

As part of our application process, you will be prompted to provide details of any reasonable adjustments to our recruitment process that you need. If you would like to discuss any reasonable adjustments before applying, please contact the recruitment team in the first instance.

If you would like an accessible version of any of the attachments or recruitment documents below or linked to in this advert, please contact the recruitment team who will be happy to assist.

Things you need to know

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Selection process details

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Security Clearance

For ONS the requirement for SC clearance is to have been present in the UK for 3 consecutive years immediately prior to applying and the department will consider eligibility by exception on a case-by-case basis. You will be asked to provide information regarding your UK residency during your application, and failure to provide this will result in your application being rejected.

At the point of SC application, you will need to provide or give access to the following evidence:

Departmental or company records (personnel files, staff reports, sick leave reports and security records)
UK criminal records covering both spent and unspent criminal records
Your credit and financial history with a credit reference agency
Security Services records

Please note: We will reach out to you once the advert has closed to confirm eligibility for this role, this will be via an e-mail. Please check you e-mails.

Visa Sponsorship

ONS are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role. Applicants are expected to hold a valid right to work in the UK when employment commences. If you are applying on a time-limited visa, this will need to be valid for at least 18 months at point of application.

Right to Work and Nationality Requirements

To work at the ONS, candidates must meet both UK right to work and security clearance requirements (where applicable).

If you are unsure whether you meet the appropriate right to work or security clearance eligibility criteria, please refer to the guidance on Gov.uk or contact the recruitment email provided in the advert before applying. Failure to meet these requirements will result in your application being rejected and employment offers being withdrawn.

Application Process

Number of Stages: 2 stage process

Stage 1: Application

Stage 2: Interview

Stage 1 - Application

The assessment process at the application stage will be based on your work history, CV, skills, experience, and personal statement. It is important that your application is tailored to highlight the skills, knowledge, and experience relevant to the role.

A personal statement is required at application stage, the maximum word count allowed is 1250 words, which should not be exceeded. You should provide evidence for each essential skill criterion listed in the person specification. As these criteria are scored, it is advisable to give clear examples for each one, including the impact of your actions, ideally utilising the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Action, Result).

In instances where a high number of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted, and candidates will be invited to interview based on merit order, i.e., those with the highest scores.

When a high volume of applications are received, the sift pass mark may be adjusted. Candidates will be invited to interview based on their merit order, with those achieving the highest scores being prioritised. Applicants who score below the adjusted pass mark but still pass will be placed on hold and may be invited to interview at a later date.

Please note that Success Profiles Behaviour examples are not required at this stage of the application process.

Stage 2 - Interview

If invited to interview, you will be assessed using techniques aligned with the Civil Service Success Profiles framework, covering all behaviours listed in the job advert.

Interviews will be in via Microsoft Teams.

A reserve list may be held for a period up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made.

Important Dates

Eligibility checks from 30/10 - 06/11. Please be aware we will be sending all candidates an e-mail to complete a eligibility form.
Sift will be conducted from 09/11/2026
Interviews will be from 01/12/2026

For the full terms and conditions of the post, please see attachment.

Please note that all campaigns may be subject to withdrawal at any stage if the internal resource position changes.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Security

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is security check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

Nationality requirements

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

UK nationals
nationals of the Republic of Ireland
nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

Working for the Civil Service

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

Diversity and Inclusion

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

Apply and further information

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Contact point for applicants

Job contact :

Name : Government Digital and Data Recruitment
Email : Government-Digital-and-Data-Recruitment@ons.gov.uk

Recruitment team

Email : About.You@ons.gov.uk

Further information

If you feel your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles and you wish to make a complaint, in the first instance, you should contact recruitment.complaints@ons.gov.uk. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from the Department, you can contact the Civil Service Commission